Pharmacy Practice, MSc, MSc (Prescribing), PG Dip, PG Dip (Prescribing), PG Cert

Course detail Description

Pharmacists are increasingly recognised as core providers of services relating to medicines use, disease management and health promotion. Our part-time postgraduate Pharmacy Practice course, designed specifically for qualified pharmacists working in community, primary care or general practice, will provide students with excellent clinical knowledge and consultation skills.

On completion of the course, students will be able to confidently deliver safe, efficient and effective patient care that meets the health needs of their local population. Students will also develop their knowledge and understanding of health beliefs and adherence, public health policy and strategic service development. They will be supported to engage effectively with commissioning groups, develop partnerships with GPs and implement successful pharmacy services that respond to the needs of patients and commissioners.

The course is modular, allowing students to undertake modules according to personal interests, CPD requirements or service development needs. In combination, completion of modules leads to the award of an academic qualification. Most students continue to work full time in addition to attending the course.

Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing, accredited by the GPhC.

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Location

This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Waterloo Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.

Teaching

We use a variety of teaching methods including tutorials, workshops, presentations and case studies. The small class size allows for interactive learning and group discussion, and some of your materials will be on our online service.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Each 15 credit module represents 150 hours of student endeavour typically comprising of:

• 15 contact hours
• 15 hours of preparation for the group seminars
• five hours of support and assessment
• 75 hours of application within their clinical setting – including undertaking of clinically related tasks
• 40 hours is to cover broader reading and engagement with clinical aspects of the work.

Assessment

We employ a variety of assessment methods, and some of the examples include:

• written reflective accounts of cases or patient interventions
• written critical reflection of a risk framework
• design of an adherence strategy
• oral presentation of a consultation framework or a case study
• written report of a business proposal
• Observed Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.

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Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take:

• MSc – modules totalling 180 credits
• PG Diploma – modules totalling 120 credits
• PG Cert – modules totalling 60 credits

You are required to take:

• MSc and MSc (Prescribing) – Pharmacy practice dissertation (60 credits)
• MSc and MSc (Prescribing) – Research methods (15 credits)
• MSc (Prescribing), PG Dip (Prescribing) – Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing (60 credits)

MSc and MSc (Prescribing) students choose enough credits to bring your total to the year to 180. PG Dip and PGDip (Prescribing) students choose enough credits to bring your total to the year to 120.

PG Cert students choose four 15 credits modules.

Supporting patients with mental illness (15 credits)

Optimising medicines use in long-term conditions (15 credits)

Pharmaceutical public health (15 credits)

Service development in a pharmacy context (15 credits)

Medicines and older people (15 credits)

Delivering effective, patient-centred care in diabetes (15 credits)

Supporting self-management of cardiovascular disease (15 credits)

Supporting self-management of respiratory disease (15 credits)

You will study 60 credits each year. Modules are offered on a two-yearly cycle. The order in which the modules are undertaken therefore depends on the point of entry into the course. Contact the course leader if you require specific information about a module.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.